Panel fastening device



March y3l, 1942.

E. M. sMALL PANEL FASTENING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vFiled April e, 1959 atroz with Mllch 31 1942 y F. M. SMALL 2,277,792

PANEL FASTENING DEVICEl Filed April 8, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 March 31 1942 F. M. SMALL 2,277,792

PANEL 'FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1,95'9 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 21AM- --x.,/ ,,1..,H...I..-. jimi l n WM Y Patented Mar. 31, 1942 PANEL FASTENING DEVICE Frederick M. Small, York, Pa., assgnor to Martin- Parry Corporation, York, Pa., -a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1939, Serial No. 266,890

6 Claims.

This invention relates to panel fastening dev vices, and more particularly to devices by which panels may be readily secured to walls or other structures and also readily detached therefrom.

An object of the present invention is to provide a panel fasteningrdevice with which a panel may be secured to a supporting structure by a movement of the panel toward the supporting structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide l a panel fastening device which enables a prefabricated panel to be placed in any desired position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching panels to metal supporting structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for attaching panels to a metal supporting structure without drilling or performing other machine work upon the structure or panel.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device for attaching prefabricated panels to metal building frame members in any desired position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the attached drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross section of a device in accordance with the present invention showing panels attached to a metal stud;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section of a modilication of the device showing its use with a metal furring strip;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device of Figure 1 with the panels removed;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; j

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 through a modification of the device;

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross section showing the position of the panels when the device of Figure 2 is employed;

Figure 7 is an elevation of a modified stud and panel attaching device;

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross section on the line 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the locking member of Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a vertical section of the locking member and attaching member taken on the line I-ID of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross section of a modified form of furring strip;

Figure I2 is an elevation oi a modified form of attaching member; and

Figure 1311s a vertical section taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 12,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Figure 1, I0 indicates Ya formof panel which may be employed with the present invention, H indicates a metal stud which is one type of supporting member which may be employed with the present invention, I2 indicates an attaching member which supports the panels I0, and I3 indicates a locking member which maintains the attaching member I2 in position.

The stud II is preferably made of sheet metal formed into the cross section shown and is provided with a channel I4 for receiving the attaching member I2 and the locking member I3.` As shown in Figure 1, the stud is preferably provided with channels I4 on all four sides thereof so `that panels may be attached to any side for different uses of the stud. Each channel I4 has a portion I5 of the metal of the stud partly overlying each side of the channel so as to provide an undercut or dovetail construction. The bottom of the channel I4 is provided with a plurality of depressions I6 formed therein to receive projections I'l of the locking member I3.

As shown in Figure `3, vthe depressions Iand the projections Il are so arranged that the locking member I3'may have a plurality of lateral positions with theA projections Il registering with the depressions I6. Each lateral position of the locking member I3 is slightly displaced vertically of the other lateral positionsfso that shifting the locking memberv I3 laterally provides for small vertical adjustment of the locking member. This is accomplished by ofi-setting the vertical column of depressions indicated at B in Figure 3 vertically with respect to the columns of depressions indicated at A and also off-setting vertically they columns of depressions indicated yat C from lboth those of A and B. Preferably the entire length of the bottom of the channel I4 is provided with the depressions I6 so that the locking member I3 may be positioned at any place along the length of the channel and located therein with a very close vertical adjustment. It will be noted that the locking member I3 is of less lateral width than the opening in the channel I4 so that it may be easily introduced into the channel and it is, furthermore, of less thickness than the depth of the channelso that it may be moved laterally under the overhanging portions I5 of the body of the stud and then the projections I1 thereof positioned within the depressions IS.

The attaching member I2 is of suicient thickness to fill the space between the locking member I3 and the overhanging portions I5 of the stud so as to hold the locking member against the bottom of the channel I4. As shown in Figure 3, the diagonal dimension of the attaching member I2 is less than the horizontal and vertical dimension thereof. Referring to Figure 3, the diagonal dimension D of the attaching member I2 is less than the opening in the channel I4, while the horizontal dimension E is greater than the opening of the channel I4. By turning the attaching member I2 forty-five degrees from the position shown in Figure 3 it may be inserted within the channel I4, then turned forty-five degrees and slipped into the position shown. The attaching member may be provided with a positioning lug IB shown most clearly in Figure 4 which engages the locking member I3 to prevent the attaching member I2 from falling out of position. The attaching member I2 is also provided with a pair of panel engaging lugs I9 which, as shown in Figure 1, are adapted to be received by resilient channels 2l) formed upon the edges of the panels I0. In the structure shown in Figures 1 and 3, the panels are positioned with their attached edges parallel to the stud II but as shown in Figure 3 the attaching member may be provided with two positioning lugs I8 and otherwise formed so that it may be positioned at right angles to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3. This provides for positioning the panels with their attached edges at right angles to the stud I I.

The panels I3 shown in Figure l are disclosed in detail in my copending application Serial No. 266,389 filed April 8, 1939, and preferably include a sheet metal envelope 2I enclosing a filler structure 22, which may be of corrugated sheet metal, and with a fibrous or other sound deadening material 23, preferably sheet asbestos, positioned between the envelope and ller structure. The sheet metal envelope 2I is interlocked at 2'4 with an attaching member engaging and sealing member which has one end 26 formed into a channel receiving the edge of t-he ller structure 22. The channel 29 formed in the member 25 resiliently engages the lugs I3 of the attaching member, which are provided with an enlarged end portion 21. The panels may be secured to the attaching member I2 by merely pressing them against the lugs I9 after the attaching members have been placed in position, and the panels are thereby resiliently held in engagement with the stud II. Preferably the member 25 is also provided with a longitudinally corrugated portion 28 which engages the portion I5 of the stud I I. This corrugated portion provides resiliency so that continuous contact is provided along the length of the panel and stud. It has been found that this construction provides an efficient thermal and Sound seal between the panel and the stud. In the modification shown in Figures l and 3, the edge portions 29 of the panels I Il are in engagement and conceal the panel attaching means. It is apparent that the panel may be removed by merely pulling the same away from the stud II.

A suitable metal furring strip 3D for use in the present invention is shown in Figure 2. This furring strip is provided with a channel I4 having over-'hanging portions I5 and depressions I6 in the same manner as'the stud II Ashown infFigure l. A lockingmember vI3 4is received `'witlinthe CII channel and held in position by an attaching member 3l. Ihe attaching member of Figure 2 is provided with lugs I 8 for holding the same in position and diifers from the attaching member I2 of Figure 1 only in that its panel engaging lugs 32 are spaced a greater distance apart. As shown in Figure 6, panels Ill held by attaching members 3I have their edge portions 29 spaced apart to receive a resilient sealing strip 33. In this modication the sealing strip 33 conceals the edges of the panels and the panel attaching means.

In Figure 5 is shown a still further modied form of attaching member and locking member. The attaching member 34 of this modification is not provided with lugs to hold the same position, but the locking member 35 is provided with a lug 36 below the attaching member 34 to prevent the same from falling out of position. Such a locking member as that shown in Figure 5 at 35 may also be provided with a horizontally extending portion 31 adjacent the bottom thereof upon which the lower edge of the panel III may rest. The lock-ing member 35 may be employed as the lower panel securing means where uneven oors require that the panel have vertical support other than that furnished by, for example, the floor of a room. It is apparent that the portion 31 may be omitted if it is desired to use the attaching member 34 and locking member 35 of this modification other than at the end of a panel.

A modified form of stud 38 is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The stud 38 is constructed of two similar sheet metal members 39 and 40 of channel formation secured together at 4I, preferably by spot welding, to form an I section. The ange portions of the stud are formed into channels having a portion 42 of the metal of the stud overlying the channels so as to provide an undercut or dovetail construction. The flange portions of the stud are also provided with a plurality of recesses or depressions 43 formed therein to receive projections 44 on a locking member 45 more clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. Locking member 45 is provided with a positioning lug 45 for supporting a panel attaching member 41, as shown most clearly in Figures '1 and 10. The panel attaching member 41 is preferably formed of sheet metal with a pair of panel attaching lugs 48 extending outwardly therefrom. The panel attaching member 41 is shown in elevation in Figure 7 and is provided with offset flange portions 49 adapted to be received under the overlying portions 42 of the stud. As can be seen from Figure '1, one dimension of the panel attaching member 41 is sufficiently small that the panel attaching member'may be inserted between the overlying portions 42 of the stud and then turned into the position shown in Figure 7. It is apparent that the panel attaching member 41 can be locked in the position shown in Figure 7 with the panel attaching lugs '48 extending parallel to the stud or that it can be locked in a position ninety degrees from that shown in Figure '1 so that the panel attaching lugs 48 extend transversely of the stud. The lugs 48 of the panel attaching member 41 are adapted to receive the channels 26 formed in the edge portions of the panels I0 shown in VFigures 1 and 6. It will be seen that the panels may be positioned with their attached edges either parallel to the studs 4D or at right angles thereto.

A modified form of furring strip 5D is shown in Figure 11 and includes recesses 43 formed therein to receive theprojections '44 onthe locking member 45. The furring stripl l] is also provided with overlying portions 5l for retaining a panel attaching member 41 and with a plurality of apertures 52 enabling the furring strip to be secured to a wall or other surface by any suitable attaching means such as nails or screws.

It is sometimes desirable to attach the panels directly to walls or other surfaces without the employment of furring strips or studs. In such case the panel attaching member 53 of Figures 12 and 13 may be employed. The panel attaching member 53 `may be entirely similar to the panel attaching member 4'1 of Figures 7, 8 and l0, except that the offset portons 49 thereof have been eliminated. The panel attaching member 53 is provided with panel attaching lugs 48 and an aperture 54 by which the member may be attached to a supporting surface by any suitable attaching means such as screws or nails.

It is to be noted that the present invention provides a panel fastening device which is particularly useful with metal frame or supporting members, but the principles of the invention may be employed to secure panels to other forms of supporting members. The fastening devices of the present invention provide for securing panels in a desired position to a supporting structure and the panels may be readily applied or detached from the supporting structure by a movement of the panel toward or away from the supporting structure. The panels are held resiliently against the supporting structure to provide a heat and sound seal. Also, the panels or associated structure completely cover and conceal the panel fastening devices.

It is to be further noted that the spacing between the panel attaching lugs of the panel atattaching members determines the relative position of a pair of panels secured thereby. By accurately positioning the lugs upon the panel attaching member, the panels :may be brought into and aligned in closely abutting position as shown in Figure 1, or may be spaced as shown in Figure 6 to receive a decorative sealing strip. Substantially all stresses to which the panels are subjected during use result in stresses in the plane of the panel. Thus, pressure applied against the exterior surface of a panel results in tension stresses transmitted to adjacent panels by the panel attaching members so that such stresses are also resisted by adjacent panels. It has, therefore, been found that a wall or other surface made up of a plurality of panels in accordance with the present invention will withstand much greater loads than a single panel by itself. Also, substantially any stresses to which the panels are subjected in use tend to more firmly cause the panels to be retained by the panel attaching lugs of the panel attaching member. For example, when a panel of the present invention is subjected to intense heat, the expansion of the panels causes one side of the resilient channel of the attaching portion of the panel to be more rmly held by the enlarged heads of the panel attaching lugs. Compression stresses developed by the panels are likewise transmitted to and resisted by adjacent panels. This factor, in combination with the securing of the panel attaching members to :metallic wall members, prevents buckling of the panels and causes them to more tightly seal a wall against passage of heat and flames, such that the structure of the present invention has fire resistant qualities equal to a masonry wall of substantial thickness.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that details thereof may be varied within the scope of the following claims.

, I claim:

1. .In a device for fastening panels to a supporting structure, a member adapted to be receivedwithin an `elongated recess formed in said supporting structure, said recess being wider at the basel than at the opening thereof, and said member having one dimension less than the width of said opening and another dimension greater than the width of said opening, whereby said member may be inserted within said recess and turned to secure the member in said recess, and a projecting portion carried by said member and adapted to be received within a recess provided in said panel for fastening said panels to said member.

2. In a device for fastening panels to a supporting structure, a member adapted to be received within an elongated channel formed in said supporting structure, said -channel being wider at the base than at theopening thereof, and said member having one dimension less than the width of said opening and another dimension greater than the width of said opening, whereby said member may be inserted within said channel and turned to secure the member 'in said channel, means to hold said member against movement along said channel, and a projecting portion carried by said member and adapted to be received within a recess provided in said panel for fastening said panels to said member.

3. In a device for fastening panels to a supporting structure, a member adapted to be received within an elongated channel formed in said supporting structure, said channel being wider at the base than at the opening thereof, and said member having one dimension less than the width of said opening and another dimension greater than the width of said opening, whereby said member may be inserted within said channel and turned to secure the member in said channel, means to hold said member against movement along said channel including a locking plate having projections registering with depressions formed in the bottom of said channel, and means for fastening said panels to said member.

4. In a device for fastening panels to a sup porting structure, a member adapted to be received within an elongated channel formed in said supporting structure, said channel being wider at the base than at the opening thereof, and said' member having one dimension less than the width of said opening and another dimension greater than the width of said opening, whereby said member may be inserted within said channel and turned to secure the member in said channel, means to hold said member against movement along said channel, including a locking member having projections registering with depressions formed in the bottom of said channel, means for fastening said panels to said member, said locking member being provided with an extending portion for lengaging the lower end of a panel to support the same against downward movement.

5. In a panel structure, a metallic panel supporting member having a channel formed in at least one side thereof and having depressions formed in the bottom surface thereof, said member having extending portions partly closing said channel, a locking member having projections fitting within said depressions, a panel attaching member superimposed upon said locking member and having portions positioned under said extending portions to hold said attaching member and locking member Within said channel, panels having resilient channels formed adjacent their 5 edges, said attaching member having projecting lugs provided with enlarged end portions received Within said resilient channels to fasten said panels to said supporting structure.

6. In a panel structure, a panel supporting 10 

